Liamson



d UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.FRUIT-PlCKER,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 256,421, dated Application filed October 10,1881. (ModeL) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES ROBERT WIL- LIAMSON and J OSEPH ANDREW WILLIAMSON,

otBrunswick,in the county of Glynn and State of Georgia, have invented a new and Improved Fruit-Picker, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention consists of abasket attached to the end ofa long handle, on which is pivoted a clipping-knife or shears,formed of two crossed angular blades provided with a shoulder or offsetin the cutting-edge, and which are held open by springs to admit the fruit into the basket, and are closed by pulling a cord attached to the ends of these angular blades'and passing down to the lower end of the handle, whereby the stem of the fruit will beclipped, the fruit dropping into the basket.

' Reference is to be had to the accompanying V drawings, forming part of this specification,

in which-similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both figures. Figure 1 is a perspective view of our improved fruit-picker. Fig. 2 is a plan View of one of the blades.

Abasket, A, formed of a series of metal strips, B, is attached to a ring, 0, which is fastened to a bent casting or knee-piece, G, attached to the upper end of a handle-rod, D, which has a detachable knee-rest, E, at its lower end. The handle D is so constructed that it can belengthened by adding more sec-. tions of-the same. A clipping or cutting knife or shear is composed of two crossed angular blades, F, made of steel, and provided, with sharp curved cutting-edges G, provided with an offset or'shoulder, G, and is pivoted to the upper end of the handle in such a manner that the blades rest on the upper edge of the ring 0 when the clipping-knife is open. Springstrips H are attached to the outer side of the ring 0, and the free ends of these springs are connected by means of cords J with the outer ends of the corresponding angular blades,'F, whereby these cutting-edges G will be drawn outward to rest against clips K, attached to the outer side of the ring O-t-hat is to say, these springs hold the clipping-knife or shears open. In place of the spring-strips H and the cords J, spiral springs may be attached to the ends of the blades F and to the ring 0. Cords April 11, 1882;

I L connect the ends of the blades F with a ring, M, at the upper end of a cord, N, guided in loops or staples O on the handle D, and provided at its lower end with a finger-loop, I. By pulling on this cord'the cutting-edges G of the bladesF will be crossed and will clip the stern of the fruit, the offsets. G forming sharp corners, which enter the stem. As soon as the cord N is released the springs H will open the clipping-knife again.

The operation is as follows: The-handle-D is lengthened as much as may be required, and the knee-rest E is placed against the knee or thigh, so as to give the handle D a firm bearing. The upper end of the handle is then raised, so that the fruit to be picked will pass pulled, whereby the cutting-edges G of the blades F are crossed, and the stem of the fruit is severed, the fruit dropping into the basket. This device can be used for large fruit-such as apples, pears, or or.anges--or small fruit, such as prunes, plums, mulberries, &c.. The fruit is not bruised, the trees are not damaged, and the fruit can be picked very rapidly with ouriuiproved fruit-picker. The springs H may be dispensed with, if desired, and the picker provided with additional cords for opening or separating the cutting-blades.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. Ina fruit-picker, the angular blade F, constructed, substantially as herein shown and described, with a curved cutting-edge, G, having an olfset or shoulder, G, as set forth.

2. In a fruit-picker, the combination, with the basket A and the handle D, of the angular blades F, having curved cuttingedges.and pivoted to the said handle, and the springs H, having one end secured to the basket and the other connected to the blades by cords J,substantially as shown and described, whereby the said blades will be held open, as set forth.

3.. In a fruit-picker, the combination, with the basket A, the handle D, and the angular blades F. pivoted to the said handle, of the springs H, having one end secured to the basket and their freeends connected to the blades by cords J, the cords L, and the cord M, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a fruit-picker, the combination, with the handle D, of the removable knee-piece E, the handle D and the basket A, provided with substantially as and for the purpose set forth. go

the clips K and the springs H, of the angular JAMES ROBERT WILLIAMSON. pivoted blades F, the cords J connecting the JOSEPH ANDREW WILLIAMSON. 5 said springs and blades together, and the cords Witnesses:

L N, substantially as and for the purpose set R. M. TIsoN, forth. M. G. LOWE,

5. In afruit-pieker, the combination, with i T. OCQNNOR, Jr. 

